Samsung Introduces TecTiles NFC Tags

We’ve been hearing for years about NFC being the next big thing in the mobile arena, and Samsung has just doubled-down by introducing TecTiles reusable NFC stickers that, when touched with an NFC enabled phone, can perform nearly any action you can dream up. Along with the release of the NFC stickers comes an app (also called Samsung Tectile) available free in the Google Play Market. So is this really going to be a big thing in your mobile life? Click through to find out…

So why are Samsung TecTiles so exciting? First, the stickers themselves are re-writable up to 100,000 times. They can perform not only a large number of actions, but multiple actions as well. Here’s just a few of the actions they can perform:

Make a Call

Send a Text Message

Show an Address or Location

Foursquare Check In

Facebook Places Check In

Open a Web Page

Share a Contact

Update Facebook Status

Start a Google Talk Conversation

Connect on LinkedIn

Launch an App

The app allows configuring these actions, then writes those instructions to the sticker. Imagine creating a sticker that you put in your car (you can even put it right on your dock) that initiates a Bluetooth connection, opens Google Navigation and starts playing music. You could put one on your nightstand that silences your ringer and sets your alarm, just by setting your phone down. There really are endless possibilities.

TecTiles are available now, and cost $14.99 for a pack of five. They’re available online from Samsung’s website, and will also be available in T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T and Verizon stores. The app is available now, and while it will install on any phone, you’ll need the NFC bits inside to make it work.

DALLAS – June 13, 2012 – Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) is helping consumers realize the potential of NFC technology today with the creation of Samsung TecTiles™ and the TecTile™ programming application. With the largest user base of NFC-enabled devices in the United States and TecTiles available in all four major carrier stores and at major online retailers at the launch of the Galaxy S III, Samsung is ensuring NFC becomes a part of daily life.

With a simple tap of an NFC-enabled phone to a TecTile, consumers are able to automate everyday functions of a smartphone including sending a “headed/at home” text message, silencing the phone when entering a meeting, setting an alarm, and dimming the display when going to bed.

Samsung TecTiles will transform how businesses large and small engage with consumers. On premise, TecTiles enable consumers to check-in on Facebook® or foursquare®, connect to Wi-Fi® or download content. Off-premise, businesses can use TecTiles as a way to market to and engage with consumers by enabling reward programs and to download discount offers or content.

“With millions of NFC-enabled Samsung Galaxy smartphones currently in the market and the arrival of our flagship device Galaxy S® III, Samsung saw an opportunity to expand the value of NFC beyond mobile payments,” said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Telecommunications America, the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. and worldwide[1]. “The launch of Samsung TecTiles is another example of Samsung’s ability to innovate new products and applications that improve the way we use our mobile devices for everyday tasks.”

Samsung TecTiles are easy to program with any NFC-enabled smartphone and the free application, which can be found in the Google Play™ marketplace. TecTiles can be reprogrammed as often as needed to complete any of the following functions on an NFC-enabled phone:

Priced at $14.99 for a pack of five, TecTiles programmable NFC sticker tags are now available for purchase online and in-store at AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile. The Samsung TecTiles app is now available for download at the Google Play store.

Brian Kramer is a photographer in St. Louis. He has been interested in mobile devices and technology since the WinMo 2003 era and has been using android since the HTC Dream came on the scene. Rumors are he even owned an iPhone for a while, but these rumors cannot be confirmed.

Spike

I really like the idea of programmable NFC stickers. But as someone who has just bought an S3, I don’t understand why Samsung didn’t launch these at the same time and pop a couple in the box for us! 2 would have we our appetite and if we needed more we could have bought them at the $15 price.

Mei

Five for $15? Over price for NFC tags. I wondered how much memory TecTiles has compare to Mifare 1k. I was thinking buying some NFC Mifare 1K keychains for $1.10 each. The Mifare 1k has 752 bytes memory. If Samsung TecTiles is not much difference or has no advancement in technology, there is no reason not to get the cheaper Mifare 1k NFC tags.

rich_bown

Just played with it and it’s awful. Can’t turn phone to silent AND launch an app! NFC task launcher is a much better app than this, expected better from Samsung!

Aokde Gharra

Samsung why are you cloning SONY :@ sony first made the NFC useable by making the XPERIA Smart Tags, not samshit copies it, sigh

http://mirolta.com/ Minesh Rai

Samsung as always the best. Surely TecTiles are the next stage in the evolution of NFC technology.